A recent report revealed that the Obama GSA’s wasteful spending spree had a second act: another lavish conference and hundreds of thousands of dollars down the drain:

“GSA SPENT MORE THAN $270,000 TO ENTERTAIN EMPLOYEES”: “Four weeks after an $823,000 spending spree at a Las Vegas hotel, the General Services Administration spent more than $270,000 on a one-day, taxpayer-funded ceremony to reward good performers that featured a drum-band exercise and more than $50,000 in gifts and awards. The Federal Acquisition Service entertained about 1,000 employees at two Arlington County hotels, with an additional 2,600 participating by webcast, officials said. Forty-nine attendees were flown in from offices around the country. The revelations Thursday from GSA Inspector General Brian Miller come three months after his scathing report on a lavish, four-day training conference in 2010 for employees in the agency's western regions.” (Lisa Rein, “GSA Spent More than $270,000 to Entertain Employees Who Got Performance Awards,” The Washington Post, 7/19/2012)

YOUR TAX DOLLARS PAID FOR 4,000 PICTURE FRAMES SHOWING TIME AND TEMPERATURE AND 4,000 DRUMSTICKS FOR “TEAM-BUILDING”: “The latest report of questionable spending came two days after acting GSA Administrator Dan Tangherlini announced a hiring freeze for the rest of the fiscal year and canceled most bonuses for executives. More than half of the money for the event that came to light Thursday- $140,464 - went to a public relations, marketing and advertising firm for 'coordination and logistical management,' according to Miller's preliminary review, which was sent to congressional investigators. ... The Arlington celebration pulled out all the stops: a $7,697.22 ‘commissioners reception’ for high-ranking officials; 4,000 picture frames showing time and temperature at a cost of $28,364,45 to taxpayers; five passenger buses, two minibuses and a van for $5,390. And a whopping $20,578.24 paid for 4,000 drumsticks for a team-building exercise.” (Lisa Rein, “GSA Spent More than $270,000 to Entertain Employees Who Got Performance Awards,” The Washington Post, 7/19/2012)

GSA WASTED $823K ON VEGAS CONFERENCE, VIOLATING “SCORES OF RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING SPENDING” TAX DOLLARS: “GSA is under fire because the inspector general revealed in an April 2 report that the agency spent almost $823,000 on an October 2010 Las Vegas conference for about 300 people. The inspector general also said officials violated scores of rules and regulations governing spending of taxpayer dollars.” (Jonathan Strong, “GSA Made Up ‘Jackass Award’ to Justify Dinners,” Roll Call, 4/12/2012)

SOLYNDRA CAUGHT ON TAPE DESTROYING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF ASSETS AFTER BANKRUPTCY: “After filing for bankruptcy last year, Fremont solar company Solyndra still owes American taxpayers half a billion dollars. But CBS 5 caught them destroying millions of dollars worth of parts. At Solyndra’s sprawling complex in Fremont, workers in white jumpsuits were unwrapping brand new glass tubes used in solar panels last week. They are the latest, most cutting-edge solar technology, and they are being thrown into dumpsters.” (“Bankrupt Solyndra Caught Destroying Brand New Parts,” CBS San Francisco, 1/19/2012)

MORE THAN HALF OF NET BUSINESS INCOME WILL BE HIT BY HIGHER TAX RATES UNDER OBAMA PROPOSAL: “And of the roughly $1.3 trillion in net business income, about 53% will get hit with the higher tax rates. This is because millions of businesses report their income as sole proprietors and subchapter S corporations that file under the individual tax code.” (Editorial, “Off the Tax Cliff He Goes,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/10/2012)